Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Research Articles

Effect of Player Position on Serum Biomarkers during Participation in a Season of Collegiate Football.

This prospective cohort study examined the relationship between a panel of four serum proteomic biomarkers (glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP], ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 [UCH-L1], total Tau, and neurofilament light chain polypeptide [NF-L]) in 52 players from two different cohorts of male collegiate student football athletes from two different competitive seasons of Division I National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision. This study evaluated changes in biomarker concentrations (as indicators of brain injury) over the course of the playing season (pre- and post-season) and also assessed biomarker concentrations by player position using two different published classification systems. Player positions were divided into: 1) speed (quarterbacks, running backs, halfbacks, fullbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, defensive backs, safety, and linebackers) versus non-speed (offensive and defensive linemen), and 2) "Profile 1" (low frequency/high strain magnitudes positions including quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive backs), "Profile 2" (mid-range impact frequency and strain positions including linebackers, running backs, and tight ends), and "Profile 3" (high frequency/low strains positions including defensive and offensive linemen). There were significant increases in GFAP 39.3 to 45.6 pg/mL and NF-L 3.5 to 5.4 pg/mL over the course of the season (p < 0.001) despite only five players being diagnosed with concussion. UCH-L1 decreased significantly, and Tau was not significantly different. In both the pre- and post-season blood samples Tau and NF-L concentrations were significantly higher in speed versus non-speed positions. Concentrations of GFAP, Tau, and NF-L increased incrementally from "Profile 3," to "Profile 2" to "Profile 1" in the post-season. UCH-L1 did not. GFAP increased (by Profiles 3, 2, 1) from 42.4 to 49.6 to 78.2, respectively (p = 0.051). Tau increased from 0.37 to 0.61 to 0.67, respectively (p = 0.024). NF-L increased from 3.5 to 4.9 to 8.2, respectively (p < 0.001). Although GFAP and Tau showed similar patterns of elevations by profile in the pre-season samples they were not statistically significant. Only NF-L showed significant differences between profiles 2.7 to 3.1 to 4.2 in the pre-season (p = 0.042). GFAP, Tau, and NF-L concentrations were significantly associated with different playing positions with the highest concentrations in speed and "Profile 1" positions and the lowest concentrations were in non-speed and "Profile 3" positions. Blood-based biomarkers (GFAP, Tau, NF-L) provide an additional layer of injury quantification that could contribute to a better understanding of the risks of playing different positions.

Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Use in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision Athletic Training Staffs

Heat illnesses present a risk for athletes, especially football players. The National Athletic Trainers’ Association established recommendations to prevent heat illnesses, which include measuring wet bulb globe temperature (WBGT). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of WBGT use among the 130 National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision athletic training staffs. Of 82 respondents, 59 use WBGT to assess heat stress. The majority of Football Bowl Subdivision training programs (72% of respondents) use the WBGT, but adherence to this National Athletic Trainers’ Association recommendation varies throughout the season (practice versus games) and is likely influenced by the geographical location of the university.

Leveraging Intercollegiate Athletics to Support Academic Giving at NCAA Division I Institutions

ABSTRACTOn average, National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Division (top-level of U.S. Intercollegiate athletics) schools raise 15% of their athletic budget from private fundraising. Key questions remain as to how increased emphasis on athletic fundraising influences academic giving. Some authors claim symbiotic effects while others assert that athletic gifts “crowd out” academic giving. The current study analyzes the largest single-institution set of individual donor data available to date. First time donors were more than twice as likely to give to athletics as academics. Fifty-one percent of donors making gifts to both athletics and academics (SPLIT donors) made their initial gift to athletics. Problematically, the conversion rate of athletic-only to split donors has fallen to less than 1%. On three different retention measures split donors have higher retention rates than athletic-only donors, who have higher retention rates than academic-only donors. Among split donors, 41.67% give their largest gift to support an academic program. Rather than competing, development officers would be better advised to systematically cultivating donors to support both athletics and academics.

Staffing Levels at National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision-Level Institutions.

The "Appropriate Medical Coverage for Intercollegiate Athletics" (AMCIA) document was created to support assessment and calculation of athletic training personnel requirements. However, little is known regarding disparities between current and recommended staffing practices. To identify the staffing and employment characteristics of athletic health care services at Football Bowl Subdivision-level institutions. Cross-sectional study. Web-based survey. Head athletic trainers and athletic training staff members who were knowledgeable about budget and staff. The survey, Assessment of Staffing Levels at National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision-Level Institutions, was used to evaluate personal, university, and staff demographics; staffing and employment topics; and AMCIA variables and use. The survey was accessed and partially completed by 104 individuals (response rate = 84.6%). A total of 79 athletic trainers (response rate = 76%) completed the entire survey. One-third of the respondents (34.2%, n = 26) met the recommended number of full-time equivalents (FTEs) for football, two-thirds of the respondents (65.7%, n = 50) failed to meet the recommendation, and 26.2% (n = 27) were missing data needed for FTE calculation. Among those who did not meet the recommended FTEs (n = 50), 38.0% (n = 19) were within 1 FTE of being compliant, 26.0% (n = 13) were within 2 FTEs, and 24.0% (n = 12) were within 3 FTEs. About one-third of respondents (35.9%, n = 37) reported not using the AMCIA, citing lack of funding (29.7%, n = 11), lack of administrative support (21.6%, n = 8), and other reasons (37.8%, n = 14). The majority of institutions that used the AMCIA were able to provide justification for staffing. For most of the institutions that failed to meet their recommendation, adding 1-3 FTE athletic trainers for football would change their compliance status. A uniform definition of the term FTE within collegiate athletics is needed to allow for structured assessment and allocation of staffing and workloads.

The Use of Pregame Hyperhydration With Intravenous Fluids in National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision Teams

To determine the frequency of pregame intravenous fluid hyperhydration (PIVFH) usage, administration protocols, indications, complications, and perceived efficacy by National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision (NCAA-FBS) teams. Cross-sectional survey study. National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision. Head athletic trainers from NCAA-FBS institutions. Voluntary, anonymous 15-item validated online survey instrument. Number of teams reporting use of PIVFH. The survey response rate was 64% (77 of 120). Thirty percent of respondents reported the utilization of PIVFH, administered to an average of 2 to 3 players. The most common reasons cited for using PIVFH were to prevent muscle cramps (95%), heat illness (79%), and dehydration (68%). Additionally, 47% of programs used PIVFH to improve player exercise tolerance and 47% per player request. Twenty-four percent of programs that used PIVFH reported the occurrence of associated complications. Only 15% of respondents believed that PIVFH improved their teams' overall performance. PIVFH is a common practice among NCAA-FBS teams. PIVFH is used most often to prevent muscle cramps, dehydration, and heat illness. The relatively few numbers of players per team who receive PIVFH suggest that higher risk individuals were targeted for administration.

How Are Athletic Directors Rewarded in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision?

Intercollegiate athletics has been a source of ongoing controversy regarding the potential conflict in pursuing athletic success while maintaining academic standards. This study examines the implicit reward system for athletic directors (ADs) in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision. Using AD compensation for 2010-2011, the evidence shows that base salaries are largely determined by revenues generated within the athletic department. Earned bonuses are unrelated to revenues but are correlated positively with football success, the tenure of the AD, and the number of teams sponsored by the school.

Institutional branding: a content analysis of public service announcements from American universities

American universities receive millions of dollars worth of media exposure every year via Public Service Announcements (PSAs) broadcast during their respective school's athletic competitions. This research explores the message strategies and executional devices used by NCAA FBS (National Collegiate Athletic Association Football Bowl Subdivision) classification schools during the 2010 football season. This study is the most comprehensive content analysis of this subject matter to date. 115 PSAs were examined, representing 111 of the 120 schools which comprise this tier of American higher education institutions. 51 variables were operationalised and are detailed in this article. These variables include messaging specific to institutional communications, as well as common creative approaches used within television advertising. Findings suggest that there is indeed a ‘sea of sameness’ across these communications and that few schools are creating unique messages. This article continues the theoretical work in this field by refining extant models for communication messages employed by higher education institutions.

When it Comes to Headlines, Winning Really is Everything

When newspaper and wire journalists select their sources, they help to determine which people or organizations receive more frequent and extensive public exposure in the print media. These decisions are often analyzed through media visibility studies. Most visibility research has focused on which lawmakers received greater coverage and what variables might predict increased media attention.1 However, there appears to be little if any research focused on other professions that are desirous of news coverage. Media visibility studies that have not dealt with politics have primarily focused on differences in coverage based on age, gender, ethnicity or race.2This study investigates the source selection and visibility of a specific publicity-seeking group-major-college football coaches. Their occupation is marked by contractual obligations to meet with the media and public and by their own self-motivations to seek out news coverage to assist in recruiting and fund-raising efforts.3 This study examines whether print journalists have developed patterns of coverage consistent with their own professional news values or reliant on factors that are not necessarily newsworthy.Major-college football coaches (defined as the 120 coaches in the National Collegiate Athletic Association football bowl subdivision) are a unique group. Poll data indicate that football reigns as the overwhelming favorite choice as an American spectator sport and leisure activity.4 And coaches are distinguished in their reliance on news coverage to foster nationwide rankings and to assist them in recruiting efforts to ensure their professional success. Few other professions require regularly scheduled press conferences with media multiple times per week as do college football coaches. College football coaches also benefit from a phalanx of media-relations staffers who arrange interviews and coordinate speaking appearances and promotional materials for them.5 The potential benefits of increased visibility and the potential pitfalls of shirking media coverage certainly provide enormous incentive for coaches to engage media audiences.Yet the media also may select or emphasize coverage and play a role in which sources are visible. Previous studies have focused on the sophistication of media source choice and shown that coverage improves when media have better awareness and context about how they cover topics and when they make attempts to question why they repeatedly use certain sources.6 A better understanding of why certain individuals are more visible in the media could contribute to more reflection about journalists' sourcing practices.Literature ReviewPrevious studies have found support for an interaction of internal and external factors on selected sources. A content analysis by Weaver and Wilhoit of sources selected across four Congresses found support for predictions that seniority, committee assignment and activity explained visibility.7 Miller conducted a similar study of Congress that found that, even when a legislator actively sought publicity, he or she was limited by the nature of his or her constituency and by the topics in the news.8This study's independent variables were influenced by the work of Matthews, who found that senators' visibility was related to a combination of personal and external factors.9 Weaver and Wilhoit based their study on Matthews' measures and provided the precedent for adaptation and experimentation with such variables.10 Therefore, independent variables were selected that mirrored those previous studies of political leaders wherever possible (e.g., seniority for both senators and coaches) or translated relative measures of success (e.g., committee assignment vs. winning percentage and bowl appearances).Lazarsfeld and Merton found that media confer prestige and enhance authority of certain individuals through legitimizing their status,11 and Klapper noted that media can transform personalities into charismatic symbols to which the public responds. …